BRITTNEY EDELMAN/SUN NEWSConcetta Piunno, also known as Toni Rash for her art.

MAYFIELD HTS. - Mayfield High School alumna Concetta Piunno, also known as Toni Rash for her art, has four paintings in a touring Slovenian art exhibition.

The exhibition is organized by the Republic of Slovenia consulate general in Cleveland.

“The exhibit is a celebration,” said Jurek Zmauc, consulate general of the Republic of Slovenia in Cleveland.

It is inspired by the 20-year anniversary of Slovenian independence and 20 years of diplomatic relations between Slovenia and the United States. The exhibit started in Cleveland last October and moved to Illinois in December. It is currently in Washington, D.C., at the Slovenian Embassy. Future stops include Pittsburgh for July and August, and Bethlehem, Pa., starting in September.

There are four other artists included in the exhibition: painter Gorazd Jordan from Maribor, Slovenia; painter Meta Novak from Milwaukee; painter Lynn Miller of Chagrin Falls; and jewelry maker Dobrila Pintar from Chicago.

Piunno’s husband, Dennis, is Slovenian. The couple traveled to Slovenia in the early 1990s and while in Ljubljana, the capital, Piunno felt inspired to paint its landscape and culture.

COURTESY OF ARTISTPiunno's painting, The Dragon Bridge, sold after a few months of being displayed in the Slovenia art exhibit.

Three of Piunno’s water color paintings on exhibit are of Slovenian towns — Bovec, Ptuj and Piran — while the fourth illustrates the “Dragon Bridge,” a road bridge located in Ljubljana. The painting depicts one of the four dragons that stand erect on each corner of the bridge.

Piunno has been an artist since childhood. She attended Holy Redeemer School in Cleveland’s Collinwood neighborhood.

In fourth grade, Piunno drew her first portrait. It detailed a “Breck Girl” shampoo advertisement in colored pencils. These advertisements gained notoriety during the 1940s and 1950s and portrayed idealized images of American women. Her teacher commended her ability to render the “Breck Girl.” This is when Piunno knew she had a flare for art.

Piunno mostly paints nouns: people, places and things.

“My subjects have included portraits of people, animals, florals and landscapes,” Piunno said. “Anything which I feel is worthwhile to paint for posterity. My hope is that my art work will continue on for many years to come, bringing some joy to those who enjoy seeing them.”

COURTESY OF ARTISTPiunno painting of Bovec, Slovenia.

The Slovenian art exhibit is a lucky opportunity to get art out to the public, Piunno said.

“I want to leave something substantial behind for my kids and grandkids to remember me,” Piunno said. “I do not want to fade away like dust.”

Piunno lives in Kirtland, but her roots are deep in Mayfield Heights. She graduated from Mayfield High School in 1960 and from Notre Dame College in South Euclid in 1964 with a bachelor’s degree in education. She continued her studies 20 years later at Cleveland State University and graduated with a master’s degree in guidance and counseling.

Piunno is retired after spending most of her career working in Euclid schools.

The Slovenian art exhibit continues into fall. Piunno’s “Dragon Bridge” painting sold shortly after the exhibit began. The other three paintings are still looking for homes.

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